For Sunday 24th December 2023, Fourth Sunday of Advent
Written by Angus on .
Photos illustrate preparations made for the recent Carols by Candlelight
Friends,
This is the last newsletter for 2023, so covers the conclusion of Advent, the celebration of Christmas and gets us to Hogmanay. Rather than attempt a lengthy coverage of those things – let me pick one simple theme. Gratitude. Gratitude - for all that has been contributed to the life of the congregation in the last twelve months. Gratitude, for our permanent staff who maintain the day to day running of a very busy office and complex building. Gratitude, for our Session Clerk and her elders for the meeting of the many responsibilities that modern-day trustees hold towards congregation and all who utilise our buildings. Gratitude, for church members and volunteers who undertake so many different tasks that sustain and support the life and feel of our community. Gratitude, for our musicians, who so enhance our worship throughout the year. One could go on, but you get the idea!
For Sunday 17th December 2023, Third Sunday of Advent
Written by Angus on .
Picture by Susan Pym
Friends,
Last Sunday our young people and their team of “grown-ups” treated us to a telling of the Nativity, with a musical dramatization entitled, “It’s a Party!” It certainly was. Culminating with the release of balloons during the final song, unleashed youthful energy delivered sacred spontaneity and a little anarchic joy. Memorably, the production earlier included the fainting of a youthful Joseph when told the news of Mary’s pregnancy, as well as a beautiful solo sung by teenager Beth Stokes. In short, we had a bit of everything, scripted and unscripted. Congregationally, we spend a lot of time lamenting the absence of our young people from church life. All the more special therefore to see them up front and involved – at the heart of our worship.
For Sunday 10th December 2023, Second Sunday of Advent
Written by Angus on .
Friends,
In recent days, Revd David Donald Scott (visiting preacher and film shower, Sunday 19th November) posted the following piece https://daviddonaldscott.blogspot.co
“I am not sure whether our most recent ‘Statistics for Mission’ have been published but I read a report by Ed Thornton about the figures for the Church of England. There were three areas highlighted – attendance at worship, social action and age profile.
Also in mind, St Andrew's Church in Jerusalem; built as a memorial to Scottish soldiers who died in Palestine in the First World War. (The Church of Scotland has had a presence in the Holy Land since the late 19th century, initially through its medical mission in Tiberias.) Today, Thursday 30th November, the Friends of St Andrew’s, Jerusalem will hold their annual service at St Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh. The service, will be livestreamed from 2pm, led by the Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan, convener of The Friends of St Andrew's.
For Sunday 26th November 2023, Christ the King Sunday
Written by Angus on .
Prayer space & sketching at Festival of Silence
Friends,
“A moment to reflect on beauty; to slow down; a restorative day; wonderfully gentle and helpful. A good silence. Silence is powerful. Silence, I have leant today, is empowering. Silence is God healing.”
For Sunday 19th November 2023, 25th Sunday after Pentecost
Written by Angus on .
Friends,
Time is transfigured, opened out and ample, It touches on eternity. I stay Awhile within this quiet church: its simple
Furnishings, and storied windows say More to me of heaven than the pale Abstractions of theology. A day
Spent in an empty church has been as full Of goodness as an age elsewhere. I feel Its peace refresh me like a holy well.
Malcolm Guite, from David’s Crown: Sounding the Psalms
Almost two years after the idea was suggested, the Festival of Silence takes place at St Columba’s this Saturday. It certainly represents a step into the unknown. At its heart is the belief that our beautiful building holds a silence that is precious. As a visitor commented: “The silence is already here. It is up to us if we want to enter it.”
The office is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m, Monday to Friday.
There is a 24-hour answering machine service.
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Find us
St Columba’s is located on Pont Street in Knightsbridge in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Church is within easy reach of three London Underground stations – Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line), South Kensington (Piccadilly, Circle and District Lines) and Sloane Square (Circle and District Lines).
St. Columba's Pont Street London SW1X 0BD
+44 (0)20-7584-2321
office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Getting here by tube
Knightsbridge Station
Take the Harrods exit if open (front car if coming from the East, rear car if coming from the West). Come up the stairs to street level, carry on keeping Harrods on your right. Turn right into Basil Street. Carry straight on into Walton Place with St Saviour’s Church on your left. At the traffic lights, St Columba’s is to your left across the street. If the Harrods exit is closed, take the Sloane Street exit, turn right into Basil Street. Carry straight on past Harrods with the shop on your right, into Walton Place as before.
South Kensington Station
Come up the stairs out of the station and turn left into the shopping arcade. Turn left again into Pelham Street. At the traffic lights at the end of Pelham Street cross Brompton Road, turn left then immediately right into the narrow street of Draycott Avenue. After just a few yards turn left into Walton Street. Carry on walking up Walton Street until the traffic lights at the corner of Pont Street. Turn right and after a few steps you will be at St Columba’s!
Sloane Square Station
Cross over the square into Sloane Street. Walk along Sloane Street until the traffic lights at the corner of Pont Street. Turn left into Pont Street. St Columba’s will then be in sight.
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